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Ronald Vitiello, acting deputy commissioner of US Customs and Border Protection, speaks to students at College of the Ozarks

Acting Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Ronald D. Vitiello speaks to students at College of the Ozarks on Monday, Feb. 19, during a convocation.

(L-R) School of the Ozarks juniors Lizzie Gates, Jackson Bliss, and Emily Shafer speak with Ronald D. Vitiello, acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and College of the Ozarks alumnus Patrick W. Berry, executive leadership adjutant for the acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, on Monday, Feb. 19, at College of the Ozarks.

Bryan Cizek (right), director of patriotic activities, shows Ronald D. Vitiello, acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Patriots Park at College of the Ozarks on Monday, Feb. 19, including The Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Missouri Gold Star Families Memorial, and the site of The Korean War Memorial (to be dedicated in April 2018).

POINT LOOKOUT, MO. — College of the Ozarks hosted Acting Deputy Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Ronald D. Vitiello on Monday, Feb. 19, during a convocation. He was accompanied by C of O alumnus Patrick W. Berry, executive leadership adjutant for the acting deputy commissioner, and Corry Schiermeyer, press secretary at U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Vitiello became the acting deputy commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection on April 25, 2017. Since Feb. 1, 2017, Vitiello has been the chief of the U.S. Border Patrol. As the chief operating officer, he was responsible for the daily operations of the U.S. Border Patrol and reported to the commissioner of customs and border protection, assisting in planning and directing nationwide enforcement and administrative operations.

Vitiello arrived on campus Monday morning and toured Patriots Park, including The Missouri Vietnam Veterans Memorial, The Missouri Gold Star Families Memorial, and the site of The Korean War Memorial (to be dedicated in April 2018). Vitiello spoke to criminal justice students from College of the Ozarks that morning and to School of the Ozarks students that afternoon. Students asked questions as part of the Q&A portion of these presentations.

Vitiello is on the lookout for recruits for the CBP workforce. Wyatt Saltarelli, senior criminal justice major at College of the Ozarks, is in the application process with hopes to work for the U.S. Border Patrol. Saltarelli had the opportunity to spend the day with both Vitiello and Berry.

“The opportunity to hear Chief Vitiello speak was incredible,” Saltarelli said. “Border Patrol has distinguished itself as one of the premier law enforcement agencies in the world and to hear its acting deputy commissioner speak at College of the Ozarks was amazing. He did an incredible job and represented the agency with the utmost professionalism. It would definitely be an incredible opportunity to work for such an agency!”

Regarding his colleague, Patrick Berry, Vitiello said, “He applies the skills and integrity he learned here [College of the Ozarks] to get to where he is today.”

Vitiello hopes to find other students with the values College of the Ozarks has instilled to work for the U.S. Border Patrol.

More about Ronald D. Vitiello

Vitiello entered on duty with the Border Patrol in 1985 as a member of Class 174. His first assignment as a Border Patrol agent was at the Laredo Station in the Laredo Sector, where he also served as a supervisory Border Patrol agent. As an agent and supervisor, he participated in Special Response Team operations and was instrumental in the formation of the Laredo Sector Criminal Alien Program.

In June 1997, he served as a deputy assistant regional director for the Border Patrol at the Central Region Office in Dallas, Texas, where he oversaw the regional implementation of Operation Rio Grande. In June 2000, he was selected as a special operations supervisor at the Nogales Station in the Tucson Sector. During his time in Arizona, Vitiello worked extensively in the Tucson Sector Community Relations Office. He was later promoted to assistant patrol agent in charge of the Nogales Station.

About College of the Ozarks

College of the Ozarks is a private, Christian, liberal arts college, located in Point Lookout, Missouri, on a 1,000-acre campus. Christian values, hard work, and financial responsibility comprise the fundamental building blocks of the “Hard Work U.” experience. The College earns numerous accolades yearly, including No. 1 Best Value Regional College in the Midwest and No. 1 Most Innovative School in the Midwest by U.S. News & World Report for 2018. To achieve its vision, the College pursues academic, vocational, Christian, patriotic, and cultural goals. These goals are mirrored in School of the Ozarks, a laboratory school that completes the K-college model.

The Keeter Center — the College’s award-winning lodge, restaurant, and conference facility — was ranked a Top Small Hotel in the U.S. by TripAdvisor for 2018. It features historic lodging, fine dining, and meeting rooms. With more than 350 student workers, it is the largest work station on campus. Follow College of the Ozarks at www.facebook.com/collegeoftheozarks or on Twitter @CofOHardWorkU.